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Topic Review (Newest First)

12-16-2012 04:40 AM

m00se

I use a 50' aqueon water changer kit that I stuck a maxi-jet 1200 on the tank end of. Screw the venturi end onto the faucet in the kitchen and plop the maxi-jet end into the aquarium. Plug in, watch television. 5 minutes later, unplug the powerhead, adjust the water temp out of the faucet, turn the valve, refill the tank, adding dechlor, take a tour of reddit... run into the kitchen when tank is 3/4" from full, turn off faucet, wind up hose...

I omitted the 3 hours of trimming and assorted other maintenance that takes place once every 2 weeks...for brevity LOL

Set up the garden hose so it absolutely positively drains free and fast. Down hill with no questions asked.

Put the female end near the tank, secure it about level with the bottom of the tank.

Test fit your siphon. Make sure it fits in the garden hose.

Start siphon, then hold your finger over the outlet end.
QUICKLY stuff the outlet end into the garden hose.

If there is any compromise in the hose the system will leak where the siphon enters the hose.
Because of this I usually arrange this sort of set up over a bucket or plastic storage bin, and have towels ready.
___________________________________

One way to start a siphon with a PVC overflow:
Drill a small hole in the PVC as low as you can on the outside.
Snugly fit some air tubing into the hole. Have a rubber band around the PVC near the top.
To start the siphon inhale through the air tubing. You will see the water enter the air tubing. Stop inhaling. Fold the tubing over or tie it in a tight knot so no air will get in to stop the siphon. Secure the air tubing higher than the tank water level with the rubber band. Use soft tubing so it is easy to shut off this way.
_____________________________________________

One way to start a siphon in any of the smaller diameter tubing (up to 1/2" diameter):
Insert a turkey baster in the outlet end and let that do the inhaling. I have done this with air tubing and a 5ml 'eyedropper' sort of thing, too.

____________________________________________

I still use the unpowered siphons the most. Run the water into a storage bin and use that to clean the filters, sponges and other things.
A pump in the storage bin is connected to the garden hose which waters the garden. When I am taking it out to the downhill garden areas I can get it going, then turn off the pump. It will siphon out from there.

12-16-2012 12:16 AM

blink

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAM6467

Not that you would want to go out and buy one just for this purpose, but a power head can be a very useful tool during a WC. I found vinyl tubing to fit over the output of the power head and simply pumped water out.

I only did this because I had an extra laying around not being used. Like I already said, this is not something that you would buy specifically for WC purposes.

This is what we do, works for the big reef tank and my small planted tank equally well and it's so much nicer than a mouthful of poopy fish water.

12-15-2012 11:59 PM

HD Blazingwolf

Quote:

Originally Posted by BradH

I understand how to prime a regular gravel vac with water in the tube to get the siphon going, but I don't get how you get a long hose pipe going without have to suck the water through. There is no way I'd do that. lol

I do the suck method. Hose is 20 feet. So i have about 4 seconds of full suctions before i pull away and 1 second later water comes out.. i have gotten a mouthfull before. Spit and mouthwash make me feel more comfortable

12-15-2012 11:40 PM

Hoppy

I connect my drain hose to a hose bib outside, with the other end laying on the deck. I run water until water comes out the other end. Then turn off the water, put the tank end in the tank, and turn on the water briefy until no more big air bubbles show up in the tank. Shut off the hose bib, unscrew the hose from it and poke it where I want the water to drain (into plantings). The hose is full of wate so the siphon is fully established. When enough water drains out, I screw the hose back on the hose bib, and turn on the water to fill the tank. When the tank is full I shut off the hose bib, pull the hose end out of the tank, and holding it high I carry it ourdoors. Disconnect the hose from the hose bib and roll up the hose as the water flow out of the hose.

12-15-2012 09:33 PM

BradH

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rev_jim_jones

The water in the hose only has to be below the level of water for gravity to make the siphon work not out of the end of the hose.

"Magnets how do they work? We can improve it with the Power of Steam!"

Didn't realize that. That makes sense then. Thanks!

12-15-2012 12:35 PM

CAM6467

Not that you would want to go out and buy one just for this purpose, but a power head can be a very useful tool during a WC. I found vinyl tubing to fit over the output of the power head and simply pumped water out.

I only did this because I had an extra laying around not being used. Like I already said, this is not something that you would buy specifically for WC purposes.

12-15-2012 04:55 AM

Rev_jim_jones

Quote:

Originally Posted by BradH

I understand how to prime a regular gravel vac with water in the tube to get the siphon going, but I don't get how you get a long hose pipe going without have to suck the water through. There is no way I'd do that. lol

The water in the hose only has to be below the level of water for gravity to make the siphon work not out of the end of the hose.

"Magnets how do they work? We can improve it with the Power of Steam!"

12-15-2012 03:34 AM

BradH

Quote:

Originally Posted by plantbrain

The U shaped PVC garden hose thingy works great, I use those plastic strainers used for prefilters on wet/dry filter(come in 1/2, 3/4" or 1" sizes and make a T, so the water des not direct straight down.

This way the same hose used to drain, is also used to fill.
The U hook stays put till you are done draining and filling.
Unhook the other end to drain down the bathtub or outside to landscape plants/grass etc, and then once drained, take that other end and connect ot the shower head(you get a plastic adapter) adjust the water temp, and refill, add dechlor to the tank you are refilling directly when you start the refill.

I understand how to prime a regular gravel vac with water in the tube to get the siphon going, but I don't get how you get a long hose pipe going without have to suck the water through. There is no way I'd do that. lol

12-15-2012 03:18 AM

Freeasabird

I have one more suck free way to siphon. Dip the siphon head (the flared part) into the tank and fill it with water. Keeping it vertical to hold water, pull it out of the tank while covering the other end of the tube with your thumb. Keeping your hands about level outside of the tank, you'll have one hand holding the siphon head vertically and full of water, the other hand equal level with thumb over tube. Slowly remove your thumb, allowing the water pressure to fill the tube with water and forcing the air out where your thumb was. Watch closely and start to re-cover the tube once it is near full. But be careful because it can go fast. The tube doesn't have to be full all the way to your thumb, just within a foot or so.

Once the tube is full of water, dip the siphon head back into the water keeping it vertical the whole time. Before inverting it allow it to fill back up with water. Once it's full simply keep it under water and as soon as you release your thumb from the other end the water will begin to flow. It sounds more complicated than it is.

12-15-2012 03:02 AM

plantbrain

The U shaped PVC garden hose thingy works great, I use those plastic strainers used for prefilters on wet/dry filter(come in 1/2, 3/4" or 1" sizes and make a T, so the water des not direct straight down.

This way the same hose used to drain, is also used to fill.
The U hook stays put till you are done draining and filling.
Unhook the other end to drain down the bathtub or outside to landscape plants/grass etc, and then once drained, take that other end and connect ot the shower head(you get a plastic adapter) adjust the water temp, and refill, add dechlor to the tank you are refilling directly when you start the refill.

I made one, very simple and very cheap.
It works by holding water in the tube when you close it after refilling from the same hose.
Drew this up of mine. The ball valve should be below the base of the tank so there will be enough water in the pipe to pull water out next time it's opened.
If you want the intake to be very deep in the tank, the ball valve will need to be even lower, at least 8in.
I have mine half way in so it will drain by itself for a 50% water change. My hose is the right diameter that I can put it into my kitchen faucet to refill.

I use a 50ft garden hose with a small fountain pump on it. I drop it into my tank pump the water into my bathtub. Then unplug the pump to stop sucking then go to the bathroom screw the other end to my faucet and fill the tank back up through the pump.

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